Rush | Best Alaska Salmon Fishing
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Lake + Company
Issue 25 is all about the feeling of Wanderlust, and allowing you to get out there and explore. Stories that ignite inspiration, storytelling and pushing us to gain a different perspective. Personal stories from artists, explorers, risk takers and change makers who are creating inspiration through their experiences.
Experience the most under-rated National Parks, the best of Alaska with Alaska Rainbow Lodge, the Maker's behind your favorite brands, unique stays and more within our 25th issue. Happy reading!
Artist Spotlight - Ross Buckland
Works depicting aviation, wildlife and the landscape!
“Chasing Rainbows”
30x20 oil on board Sold
Last summer I has the pleasure of spending a week at Alaska Rainbow Lodge..fly fishing, bear encounters and lots of float plane flying in the deHavilland DHC-2 Beavers. Trip of a lifetime! To celebrate the adventure, two paintings were completed a few months ago. As they now hang in the lodge, they can finally be shared here.
The first depicting the Boss’s airplane checking on Paul and a guest chasing Rainbow trout up at Kulik.
Essential Items for Fishing in Alaska
Think back to your early days of fishing—the careless summers of your youth. You and your cohorts ran around from spot to spot as hours turned into days, with nothing more than a hook, line, rod, and worms. Back then, you were just killing time, seeking refuge from mowing lawns and parental supervision. As much as we cherish those carefree days, most of us weren’t chasing salmon and trout, let alone fly fishing. Fly fishing gear is more involved than what we used as kids, and to add to the battle is the level of patience and commitment necessary to hone your skills. To help acquaint you with your soon-to-be new favorite pastime, we compiled a shortlist of fly fishing gear essentials to get you started.
Flies and Waders
Flies and waters are just as important to fly fishing as your rod and reel. Much like the items mentioned above, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get decent products. You’ll add more flies to your fly fishing gear as you become more acclimated to the sport, so right now, a standard assortment of flies will suffice. As far as waders go, an entry-level pair will get the job done; however, you may want to spend a little more on your second set.
Polarized Sunglasses and Fishing Hat
Protection from the heat and sun is crucial, even while fly fishing in Alaska. Polarized sunglasses are great for fishing because they offer protection, while also providing visibility just under the water’s surface by deflecting glare. Fishing hats will increase the effectiveness of your sunglasses while also adding extra protection from the sun and pesky insects like black flies, gnats, and mosquitoes—the last thing any angler wants to be bombarded by bugs while perfecting their cast.
Rod and Reel
A rod and reel are obviously necessary for fly fishing in Alaska, but the biggest takeaway is that you don’t need to break your budget to obtain a decent setup. Finding a rod that works best for you is the most important aspect when starting. It’s recommended that beginners commence their foray with a medium action rod for both stability and feeling bites. When it comes to reels, the best rule of thumb is, bigger fish need bigger reels.
Spotlight River - Nushagak River
The Nushagak is a 275-mile, Class I river known for its massive salmon runs beginning in early June. It is estimated to produce nearly 50 percent of the world’s wild salmon and serves as a major source of commercial, subsistence, and sport fishing activities that support the state and local economies. Flowing south away from the Kuskokwim Mountains and out of the Nushagak Hills and into Nushagak Bay of the world famous Bristol Bay region, this river represents one of the most important fishery habitats in southwest Alaska. For 275 miles this river runs as a Class I river that is well suited for families that have good wilderness camping skills and enjoy interactions with local native peoples as it flows past several native villages. Scattered forest of spruce and poplar confine the river, with open tundra outside the river corridor. High river bluffs make short hikes with a view quite easy. Huge runs of King Salmon, Pink Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon and Sockeye Salmon make their way upriver beginning in early June, soon after ice breakup is complete. Trout, Char, Dollies and Grayling fill the river, as well, making this is a sport fisherman's paradise. As it progresses downriver it joins other important fish habitat rivers, such as the King Salmon, the Mulchatna and Nuyakuk Rivers. The upper river from the confluence with the Chichitnok River is especially scenic with hills to hike and small streams to fish. This river is suitable for all watercraft with rafts and inflatables being the most common boats to take.
Know Your Fishing Seasons
Seasons for Salmon
Though there are usually a few different prized catches lurking beneath the waves, each salmon has a little bit of a different season. Being located near Bristol Bay, we tend to get the early portion of the salmon run every year. Salmon will swim from the saltwater sea every four years to the fresh waters they were born in to spawn and restart the cycle. Pink Salmon, Chum, and Sockeye salmon don’t tend to come into season until late July and finish out the end of our season strong into August and even September.
Kings, Sockeye, and Moving with the Seasons
The Sockeye Salmon is an early season salmon arriving in late June, but King Salmon tend to lead the charge closer to the beginning of June. Having availability to so many different waterways and the vast Bristol Bay, we have an advantage in finding areas that these monster catches migrate to as the seasons progress. As all of the salmon move further into the freshwater, each of the fourteen neighboring rivers allows us to reach areas further inland to keep up with them during their upstream fight to spawning grounds.